A place in the Betfred Women's Super League Grand Final is at stake for Leeds Rhinos and York Valkyrie this Friday as both sides meet in a semi-final shootout at AMT Headingley on Friday night, kick-off 5.15pm.

Shown live on Sky Sports, the Rhinos aim to end a three-year hiatus from the Grand Final as Lois Forsell's side look to join Wigan Warriors in this year's final, whilst the Valkyrie aim to add to their two league titles should they get past the Rhinos and Warriors in the next two weeks.

Here's your match preview:

2026 so far...

A fourth league instalment of the season between Leeds and York is arguably both sides' biggest meeting in almost two years as one club looks to book their place in next week's Grand Final.

Despite recent form seeing them enter Friday's game without a win in their last four games, the Rhinos still have the advantage of running out on home soil as they look to get a first semi-final win since 2023's last-gasp win over St Helens. This season hasn't seen Leeds struggle for points, with a threatening outside back corps of Ruby Enright, Ebony Stead, Connie Boyd, Evie Cousins and Olivia Whitehead all recording double-digit try tallies over the course of the year, plus half back Mel Howard is chasing a personal record points tally with the Rhinos as she has 166 points in all competitions (compared with 178 points in 2025).

A team renowned for promoting through its youngest stars, 2026 has been no different, as Ruby Walker, Ruby Bruce, Boyd and Frankie Blakey have featured extensively to continue their development under Lois Forsell. Added to that, Pauliane Wambalu and Amelia Hirst have shown qualities that could put them in the first team for years to come, whilst the signing of Lois Naidole has been a masterstroke across the forward line alongside other recruits Georgia Elliston, Nicole Kennedy and the returning Bella Sykes. All that has resulted in one of the club's better seasons in the Super League competition, as the Rhinos notably only lost once during the regular season to finish behind eventual League Leaders' Shield winners Wigan despite a run of six consecutive wins against Featherstone, York, Barrow, Saints, Leigh and Huddersfield.

History at the semi-final stage of a Betfred Women's Super League season does favour Friday's hosts, who won their first five consecutive semi-finals between 2018 and 2023 (including 2021's win over York). A run of back-to-back losses against eventual Grand Final winners York and Wigan in the last two years destabilised that run - but this week is a chance to take a huge step and qualify for a first major final since 2024.

York's season might not have been as smooth as others, but head coach Leon Pryce has got his side firing at the right time in order to be in the Grand Final conversation. 

A standout 26-12 win over Wigan Warriors at the end of the Super 4s series not only handed Denis Betts' side their only loss of the league season, but also handed York a boost to jump St Helens and into the semi-final places. Rewinding the clock to the end of the regular season, the club qualified for the top four by two league points and didn't have a win over the three sides above them, but a strong Super 4s saw the Valkyrie close the gap to Saints as they ended the top four series with three wins in four matches.

The return of full back Tara-Jane Stanley has coincided with an upturn in form as she has two tries and 13 goals in the last four games, but Canadian power prop Megan Pakulis has been the consistent performer as the leader of the Valkyrie pack. She scored three tries against Leeds in the Super 4s alone and was recently voted the club's Player of the Year. Amongst the York players that featured in the semi-final win over the Rhinos in 2024, Eboni Partington will be a key player - led by her experience both with the Valkyrie and St Helens - plus England international Savannah Andrade will be one to watch out for too as she aims for a third Grand Final appearance with the club.

Semi-Final Meetings

The Super League era of the Women's game has seen Leeds and York meet only twice in the semi-finals, as the two sides have competed for a place in the season finale.

Currently, it's one win each, starting with a comeback win for the Rhinos back in September 2021. After trailing by ten points at the break, a solo effort from Courtney Winfield-Hill and two tries from Sophie Nuttall confirmed Leeds' place in the final. York responded three years later, en route to back-to-back Grand Final wins, holding off the Rhinos 12-10 in 2024.

In addition, the sides have met twice in the Grand Final too - both with one win apiece too.

2021 - Rhinos 22 Valkyrie 18

2024 - Rhinos 10 Valkyrie 12

SL total form & 2026 meetings at AMT Headingley

PLAYED: 21

LEEDS WINS: 12

VALKYRIE WINS: 8

DRAWS: 1

Round 3

Super 4s - Game 1

Milestones

LUCY MURRAY needs four points to reach 100 Super League points for the Rhinos.

LUCY MURRAY needs six points to reach 150 career points for the Rhinos.

MEL HOWARD needs eight points to reach 350 career points for the Rhinos.

Ticket and Fan Information

Tickets for the match can be purchased in advance online at tickets.therhinos.co.uk. Tickets will then be available to download to the RhinosTix App for fans to use on their smartphones to be scanned at the entry gate.

On matchday, tickets will be available to purchase at the Gate B, St Michaels Lane turnstiles (cash or card payments available. Subject to availability).

TICKET PRICES

• Adults (aged 17 and over) - £10
• Juniors (aged 16 and under) – FREE Juniors do not require a ticket for this game and access will be given on the day
• Leeds Rhinos 2026 Season Members - will need to purchase tickets for this game as it is not included in the Season Membership.

All tickets are for standing in AMT East Stand Terrace or unreserved seating in North Stand.